Merlin Holidays

Title: you should've said
Recipient: xfortytwo
Rating: Explicit
Pairings: merlin/arthur, side morgana/gwen, side alice/gaius, mentioned arthur/mithian
Word Count: 18,723
Content Notes/Warnings: no warnings apply

Summary: Merlin’s life is perfect. He loves his job at his Uncle and Aunt’s magical shop, Tonic & Tomes. He’s made great friends through the Magical Meet Up, a support group he’s helping to run. He’s living rent-free in a fabulous Chelsea townhouse in the heart of London, just twenty minute’s walk from his work. His housemate, Arthur, is funny and generous - admittedly, he’s also a bit of a prat, but that’s kind of endearing - and Merlin has fallen utterly in love with him. So, yes, life is perfect, or at least it would be if Arthur wasn’t in love with someone else. A story of magic, messages, marshmallows and misunderstandings, because obviously, actually talking about things is cheating …

Author's Notes: I have so enjoyed writing this. I loved your prompts, ingberry. I wanted to use them all! I focused on the magical support group and some texting and letters. I loved the song prompt and it played in my head while I was writing, even though I can't say exactly what in the fic came from it, but maybe it has a bit of that vibe. A huge thank you to the Mods and to Sethxo who not only betaed this and made it so much better, but also maintained my sanity and helped me with some of the characters. You're a star!!!

AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35432716/chapters/88321312

Title: A Different Way To Be
Recipient: elissastillstands
Rating: Mature
Pairings: Gwen/Morgana, side Merlin/Arthur
Word Count: 18k~
Content Notes/Warnings: Canon typical violence, grief
Summary:
She cannot succumb to the belief that the only way to peace is through violence. Too much is at stake. The heart of her kingdom and the heart of her lady.

Four times Gwen and Morgana sparred for practice, and one time they sparred for real.

Author's Notes:
Dear Elissa, thank you so much for your beautiful prompts! From one Gwen lover to another, I sincerely hope you enjoy this story!

Huge thanks to my amazing beta jiang who did such a wonderful job in such a short space of time <3 And many thanks to the lovely and patient mods who run this wonderful fest so well every year <3

This fic has a vague relationship to series one canon but it's pretty much all au from To Kill the King onwards.

AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27950249

Title: Sleight of Hand
Recipient: Atlanta_Black
Rating: T
Pairings: Gwen/Morgana
Word Count: 42,281
Content Notes/Warnings: Canon-Typical Violence

Summary: The castle watches. It listens. And one day, it will feast on all their bones.

Gwen has grown up inside the looming castle which towers over Camelot, in the shadow of the butcher's rule. In the wake of Morgana's disappearance, as the lower town struggles with their monarch's tyranny and rumor grows of a sorcerous kingdom rising up against Uther, Gwen must face what it means to call Camelot her kingdom, and what she will do to save it.

Author's Notes: Atlanta_Black, it was a positive delight to write for you! I saw that you had Gwen/Morgana on your list, with the two of them refusing to hurt each other no matter what happens, and from those words this story grew. I tried to incorporate elements from across your prompts as well (Merlin not shying away from his magic, telling Morgana about his abilities, and training with the Druids; a magic reveal which puts Arthur on the spot; Gwen not being too nice), but this fic ran away from me in the end, in unexpected ways. I hope you enjoy it!

With greatest thanks to Anya, for a thorough and insightful beta on a fic that kept sprawling beyond its bounds.

AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27750199/chapters/67925905

Title: Rarely Plain and Never Simple
Recipient: chamaenerion
Rating: Teen and up (for mild profanity)
Pairings: Merlin / Arthur Pendragon, Side Gwen / Morgana
Word Count: 17,247
Content Notes/Warnings: n/a

Summary:
For once, it would be nice if Merlin’s favourite winter festival could pass without him having to fend off deadly magical threats. But something about Yule just seems to bring out the absolute worst in people. Year after year he enters the season full of hope for an enjoyable party, only for his hopes to be dashed by a deluge of disasters. Still, despite being waylaid by an overly perceptive knight, a curious prince, and a naughty baby dragon, he is cautiously optimistic that this year will be different... until a sorcerer arrives at the citadel who threatens to punch a hole in all his dreams…

Author's Notes:
Dear chamaenerion

It has been such a pleasure writing this fluffy winter festival story for you. I took your prompt about Leon the Secret Keeper and ran with it… I hope you enjoy it!

With huge thanks to my beta readers A, W and C and cheerleader L for your kind words of encouragement :) Any remaining errors, inconsistencies, plot holes, repetitions or downright sillinesses are all mine.

Dearest Mods - thank you once again for all your hard work running this fabulous and much beloved fest. For Camelot!

The truth is rarely plain and never simple ~ Oscar Wilde (The Importance of Being Earnest)


AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27643274

Title: Secrets
Recipient: Moondustings
Rating: G
Pairings: Gwen/Morgana
Medium: Digital painting
Content Notes/Warnings: None
Artist's Notes: In which Gwen knows, and Morgana knows that she knows.

Prompts: emotional intimacy, exploration of loneliness, cozy, established relationship

I drew inspiration for the composition and style from Alphonse Mucha's "Quill and Primrose," as well as Klimt's "Girlfriends" and "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I".

AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/21502426

***And that's a wrap for the 2019 fest! Thank you to all of our participants and everyone who has been reading and especially leaving kudos and comments for our brilliant artists and writers! Reveals to come soon!***

Title: Eating In
Recipient: nomical
Rating: E
Pairings: Gwen/Morgana
Word Count: 3440
Content Notes/Warnings: n/a
Summary: Gwen's having a busy day, but Morgana still decides to surprise her for lunch. Unfortunately, so does Arthur.
Author's Notes: Happy belated holidays, nomical! Since you said you ask for Gwen/Morgana office smut every year, I hope this contributes at least a little bit to satisfying your craving!

AO3 link to fanwork: http://archiveofourown.org/works/9235337

Title: Home
Recipient: lyryk
Rating: T
Pairings: Gwen/Morgana
Word Count: 2689
Content Notes/Warnings: Rape/Non-con
Summary:
Author's Notes:
Dear lyryk (s_k),
I hope I was able to fulfill at least some of your prompts with this little story! I very much enjoyed writing it, and hopefully you will have fun reading it.

Thanks to my friend who took the time to read through this and beta it, and to the mods for organising this amazing fest!


AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/8640220

Title: Fanart : Corsets and libraries.
Recipient: lyryk
Artist: Anon
Rating: Teen and up.
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur, Morgana/Gwen
Medium: Digital and traditional art
Content Notes/Warnings: None
Artist's Notes: I really enjoyed creating this art and I hope lyryk will like it! It was a lot of fun and a pleasure to draw! c:
Link to fanart: http://archiveofourown.org/works/1057103

Title: We Were Once Friends
Recipient: amaranthine_7
Artist: waltzing_mice
Rating: G
Pairings: Morgana/Gwen
Medium: Traditional Drawing (pencil on Bristol)
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: The characters depicted herein belong to Shine and BBC. I make no profit from this endeavor.
Artist's Notes: Past Vignette Gwen/Morgana: Once upon a time and before the dreams and the magic, we were young teenagers and could sit on the bed together and talk for hours about everything.



( We Were Once Friends )